Cyclodextrin metal-organic framework for efficient adsorption of lithium phenyl-2,4,6-trimethylbenzoylphosphinate (LAP) residues from cultured meat

• HPLC successfully quantified LAP residues in cultured fish with reliable recovery. • A green cyclodextrin metal-organic framework (CD-MOF) was synthesized and used as adsorbent. • CD-MOF showed high adsorption capacity for LAP and Irgacures removal from cultured meat. Cultured meat offers a promising solution to meet global protein demand using stem cells rather than traditional animal agriculture. The production relies on gel-based scaffold materials, requiring photoinitiators like lithium phenyl-2,4,6-trimethylbenzoylphosphinate (LAP) for crosslinking and forming the three-dimensional matrix. However, LAP residues in the final product pose potential health risks, necessitating efficient detection and removal strategies. In this study, we analyzed cultured fish meat samples, revealing LAP residues, then prepared an eco-friendly CD-MOF from edible materials and demonstrated its excellent LAP adsorption capabilities. The adsorption quantity was investigated using high-performance liquid chromatography (HPLC), and the method's versatility was validated by expanding the study to 2-Hydroxy-4′-(2- hydroxyethoxy)-2-methylpropiophenone (Irgacure 2959) and 2,2-dimethoxy-2-phenylacetophenone (Irgacure 651). CD-MOF achieved maximum adsorption rates of 88.19 ± 3.65 mg/g for LAP, 60.88 ± 3.51 mg/g for Irgacure 2959, and 56.52 ± 3.28 mg/g for Irgacure 651. Spiked recoveries in cultured meat samples ranged from 84.36 % to 98.78 %, with RSDs between 2.16 % and 6.87 %, demonstrating high precision. These findings suggest CD-MOF's promise for detecting and removing photoinitiator residues in cultured meat production.